D.A. says no crime in patrol car death

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – The district attorney in Durham County says no charges will be filed in the death of a teenager who police say shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a patrol cruiser.

District Attorney Leon Stanback announced Tuesday that a review of a report from the State Bureau of Investigation, the chief medical examiner and other files showed there is not probable cause to charge that a crime occurred in the death of Jesus Huerta.

The 17-year-old Huerta died last Nov. 19 in the back of a squad car as it was approaching the parking lot at police headquarters.

Police say all evidence collected during their investigation indicates Huerta killed himself with a concealed large-caliber pistol that a rookie officer failed to detect when he frisked him.